LifeWay Family Bible Series for March 6: Life should match words when identifying Jesus_30705

Posted: 2/24/05

LifeWay Family Bible Series for March 6

Life should match words when identifying Jesus

Mark 8:27-33; Acts 3:11-26

By Mitch Randall

First Baptist Church, Bedford

Ever wonder what others at work or in your neighborhood are saying about you? While most of us like to think we're above that, we naturally want to know what our peers think from time to time. There seems to be something innate within that conjures up an inquisitive side. Most of us seek confirmation that what we're doing in life is worthy of the task. The mission we've given ourselves is being appreciated or noticed, at least, by those we're trying to help.

On a night long ago, Jesus asked a question which brings a hush within Mark's Gospel even today as the reader of this magnificent story waits for an answer.

An inquisitive mind (Mark 8:27-28)

Jesus and his disciples were making the long journey from Bethsaida towards Caesarea Philippi. In the literary layout of Mark's Gospel, this journey toward Caesarea Philippi was a precursor to the turn toward Jerusalem and the fate that awaited our Lord. On the way, Jesus and the disciples engaged in a discourse of sorts. Rabbi Jesus calls his traveling school into session as he poses this question, “Who do people say that I am?”

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Before examining the disciple's answers, consider for a moment what Jesus truly is asking. Jesus was a carpenter from Galilee, yet he healed the sick from their afflictions. He came from humble origins, yet he spoke as eloquently as the leaders of the Temple. He was by no means a military hero, but the leaders of the day seemed frightened of him and his message.

There was a great mystery regarding his identity. Seriously, who has the audacity to say and do such things; especially someone who comes from such a background? The idea of people calling him a lunatic might have crept into our Lord's mind.

With everything Jesus was doing and saying, townspeople must have been talking about him. His question searches for an answer to what people were thinking. The disciples answer, “John the Baptist; and others Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” At least they were not calling him a lunatic.

In fact, the things the disciples said were high praise for this carpenter from Galilee. John the Baptist was a fiery preacher who led many to repent of their sins and be baptized. Elijah was a hero of the faith whom many considered a precursor to the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. And finally, the idea of Jesus being compared to the prophets was incredible. Prophets were revered for their bold preaching and unfaltering commitment to God. High praise, indeed.

Getting personal (Mark 8:29a)

Yet, Jesus knew the town folk were not the only ones talking about him. He had heard the conversations late at night. He had walked into conversations by the firesides after praying when the disciples stopped talking suddenly, signaling they were talking about him. So, the Rabbi digs a little deeper and asks, “But, who do you say that I am?”

While the well-schooled of the faith have been trained to read this as a fluid question and answer, there seems to be something missing when read in that light. Instead, there is something about that question which brings an almost instant hush to the story.

Take a moment to re-read the story with a brief pause between Jesus' question and Peter's answer. Do you understand the full drama of that question? Answering a question about what others are saying was quite simple, but when Jesus asked what the disciples thought, well, that was just getting downright personal.

They honestly felt he was no lunatic, or why would they have left everything and followed him? They knew he was much more than a fiery preacher, for they had seen his miracles of compassion. They knew he was quite similar to the great Elijah, but there was something obviously different about him that made him stand out even against the comparison of the great prophet. They knew he was a great prophet of old, but his message was much more radical and personal than any they had ever heard. They knew something was different about him. They knew, but to vocalize it publicly might brand them as lunatics.

Out on a limb (Mark 8:29b-30)

As is his tendency, Peter decides to climb out on this theological limb. He answers, “You are the Messiah.” The hush is broken. And with it, a private conviction surfaces to become public proclamation. As far as Peter was concerned, standing before him was none other than the long awaited Prophet of God and Savior of Israel.

The Messiah was the prophet many Israelites had hoped would come one day. His message would be one of justice for the now and hope for the future.

With Peter's bold declaration, all eyes fell onto Jesus. Jesus instructed his students not to let anyone know his identity, for the appointed time had not yet arrived.

Mistaken identity (Mark 8:31-33)

Jesus went on to explain the Son of Man would undergo great suffering, be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the scribes, be killed and after three days rise again. Peter, the same man who had just proclaimed Jesus was the Messiah, pulled the Messiah aside and rebuked him.

Peter, like many before and after, thought the Messiah of God was a worldly conqueror only interested in political sovereignty and the state of a country. With what must have been almost tears in his eyes, Jesus says to Peter: “Get behind me Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Remembering back (Acts 3:11-26)

Peter must have thought back often to that night, when in one instance, he made the greatest of all claims and suffered one of his greatest disappointments. Yet while that night might have haunted him later on in life, there were moments when the great apostle used that evening to tell others about the true identity of Jesus. In the book of Acts, he proclaims, “I know that you acted in ignorance.” Peter knew because he had done the same.

However, Peter's ignorance over time turned into a mighty faith. The bold claim he made on the way to Caesarea Philippi would end up being correct; Jesus was and is the Messiah. Peter would preach that message more times than anyone could count. For Peter, Jesus was Son of Man who descended from above to bring the forgiveness of sins and salvation for the world. As Peter stood in the book of Acts to proclaim to the world the true identity of Jesus, he proclaimed without hesitation Jesus is Lord.

Discussion questions

Have there been times when you were asked difficult questions about your faith? How did you respond?

What preconceived images do you have about God's Messiah?

Is there a difference between the way you identify Jesus and the way you relate to him?

Have you used moments in your life, both good and bad, to help proclaim the gospel to others?